Sen. Carozza calls for special session in Maryland General Assembly

July 18, 2023

Han Cechini,

MARYLAND – Maryland State Senator Mary Beth Carozza is calling for a special session this summer or fall. Two topics top of mind for the senator: Maryland’s gas tax, and gun violence.

Calling for Gas Tax Cuts

On July 1st, Maryland’s gas tax automatically increased by 10%, or about 47 cents per gallon. The increase is tied to O’Malley Administration-era legislation; the bill allows the state’s gas tax to increase with inflation rates, without lawmakers’ approval. Sen. Carozza hopes to change that in the special session.

“Republicans in the legislature, for years now, have been calling for an end to the automatic gas tax increase,” said Sen. Carozza. “We saw some hope this past spring, leading up to July 1^st when this was going to go into effect when Governor Moore indicated that he was not supportive of an automatic gas tax.”

Sen. Carozza says voters expect lawmakers to give input on these types of important decisions.

“You are taking the legislature completely out of the picture, and I think, abdicating responsibility,” said Sen. Carozza. “It’s not too late, even though July 1^st has come and gone. We have plenty of time this summer and this fall that we don’t have to wait until the 2024 session to take action.”

Tough Conversations Expected

That tax revenue pays for infrastructure improvements, and Sen. Carozza says cuts may be made elsewhere if lawmakers successfully roll back the increase.

“I now have constituents raising questions about electric vehicles, and the revenue from the electric vehicles, given the mandates and the new goals for the future,” said Sen. Carozza. “I think you will see, in 2024, some very hard discussions about where we are with the state’s budget overall, how much we are depending on it through the gas tax, and what we’ll have to look at with these other mandates, with [electric vehicles].”

Tackling Gun Violence

The other topic that Sen. Carozza wants to tackle in a special session is gun violence.

Following recent mass shootings in Baltimore and Salisbury, “There should be a sense of urgency for immediate action. My thought was, why can we not move forward with areas that we agree on?” said the senator.

Sen. Carozza says she has already had conversations with bipartisan colleagues, states attorneys, law enforcement, and Governor Wes Moore. “There does seem to be some sort of general agreement that we have to do something on accountability and consequences. There has to be penalties for repeat, violent offenders using guns,” she said.

Youth and Repeat Offenders

Sen. Carozza supports initiatives like providing more resources for youth in communities plagued by gun violence. However, she says, Gov. Moore needs to do more to address repeat violent offenders. In May, a Goucher poll revealed that 83 percent of Marylanders considered reducing crime as extremely or very important.

“You cannot have a comprehensive public safety initiative and not do anything on violent crime, especially areas that we agree on,” said Sen. Carozza. “I do not see why we would wait. Look, I understand that in summer and fall people have other priorities. But, when these issues become urgent, we can justify a special session to do the people’s work, and to make our neighborhoods and communities safer.”

This issue hits close to home, says Sen. Carozza; repeat violent offenders were responsible for the deaths of Wicomico County Sheriff’s Corporal Glenn Hilliard, Delmar Police Department Corporal Keith Heacook, as well as a shooting survived by a Maryland State Trooper on the shore earlier this year.

“We are very sensitive to the fact that the consequences and accountability just haven’t been there for those types of violent crimes. And then, you add to it, what happened over the 4^th of July in Baltimore and in Wicomico County. You’re seeing so much of that focused on juveniles,” said Sen. Carozza. “I believe that there’s a way to make sure we’re steering our juveniles the right way. But, at the same time, if those juveniles turn to violent actions, they also should be held accountable, and there should be real consequences.”

Looking Ahead

Calling a special session would ultimately be up to Gov. Moore. Sen. Carozza says that call can only come after consultation with the House Speaker and Senate President.

“If they are making the decision to not do the special session in the summer or the fall, then I would think that would indicate that this would be a top priority when we return in January,” said Sen. Carozza.